This is really big news. Elite Defense is now representing the Specter line of optics from Elcan and they’re debuting a pre-production version of the Specter, Holographic Combat Optic.
They advertise 1200 hours on nominal setting (12 daytime, 3 NVG) from a cross mounted CR123A. it offers a latger field of view than its closest competitor and is manufactired from an aluminum housing for strength. It features a solid state optical path and Elcan has conducted exhaustive testing to ensure the is no thermal drift up to the design target range of -40 to 160 deg F. The are no moving parts in the optical path so there is no room for moisture incursion. There are two reticle options, 72 MOA circle with 1 MOA dot as well as just a 1 MOA dot.
The Specter HCO begins shipping in May.
Tags: Elcan, Elite Defense
I know it’s just an opinion, and the sight might be the bomb, but holy hell is that fugly. Looks like it has a pair of balls in front.
Other than scratching the EOTech itch, why is it big news?
Because Elcan is a big company and this is a new and relevant product.
I also thought it had droopy balls
I’m with Matt on this one.. that is one… ugly… optic. Don’t get me wrong, Elcan’s are great, battle proven optics so I have no doubt it will perform well. But holy hell.. that looks like an airsoft Eotech knockoff…
I always purchase my optics based on looks. Performance is way over rated.
Looks heavy.
I wonder what it’s temp range is…
Doh, I’m dumb. I looked right past it.
FYI: Elcan =/= EoTech
This.
Yeah…Elcan has its own problems with its ridiculous external elevation adjustments which are susceptible to shifting.
?(?_?)?
Pretty good news for HWS fans – glad to see someone stepping into the EOTech void. I know that there aren’t HWS fans, but I think it’s more to do with EOTech’s failures than the principle of the sight. The HWS is a good solution, and I know plenty of shooters with astigmatism that benefit from the HWS over a traditional RDS.
I’m fine with the HWS concept, just not eotech’s business practices. I hope elcan learned from eotech’s failings because they’re going to have to work even harder to win over customers and agencies who got burned by eotech.
My vision is a little more messed up than just an astigmatism. After a brain injury from an IED and 5 brain surgeries(I’m lucky to be alive) I have weird vision problems that make using a HWS just about impossible unless I look through a 3x mag. Without a magnifier I see nothing but a red blur and can’t even tell its a reticle. Not to mention RDS’s are hard to use too with out a 3x mag. And that’s with corrected vision. Prism scopes like the Vortex 1x or 3x Prism though look very crisp. Would love to see a product by Trijicon or Aimpoint RDS/HWS that would work with my vision issues!
Glad to see someone else entering the playing field in HWS, but boy is it ugly… “droopy balls going to fast” look is just not right! They could have done way better without encroaching on Eotech’s HWS design, I mean it is really really really ugly!
While it may not be the best looking sight out there, if it works, people will buy it and in droves.
With the void created from Eotech, Elcan has a really great chance to dominate the market if their product works as advertised
Anybody have an idea for the price of this?
Hopefully by the time this hits production they will have rounded off all the sharp edge, particularly those hook-like aft projections aimed at the operator’s eyes and face!
+1
And enlarge those awfully small brightness adjustment buttons.
And now we know why ex-EoTech & Elite Defense employees launched their attack a few months ago…
It was only a matter of time until the motivation came out…
Attack?
^this is funny. What motivation are you referring too? The motivation to find a viable product that’s suitable for the market that doesn’t risk an entire company (and a majority of their revenue base) loosing everything because the product they were distributing failed product while under the assumption that it met requirements set forth by a manufacturer? Yup, totally sounds like an attack.
I know it’s nothing new with Elcan and I understand the advantage and I like that it eliminates moving parts from the optics, I really don’t like external adjustments. If only because it essentially eliminates 3rd party mounts.
I played with it at Shot. The reticle was fuzzy and it had issues with the reticle not actually even inside the eindow. The left side hash was lower than right side. It is heavy but nothing terrible. Has potential but might have some bugs to work out.
Sorry for typos.
How did you play with it? Those aren’t production models. The side buttons on those samples don’t even work on the three that were sent to SHOT as displays.
I looked at it and picked up the sample that was on a rifle. It appeared when I was pushing a button the reticle got brighter so I assumed it was a working model. He did say the were not the final production model and that some tweaks were still needed. I just stated what I observed in a limited exposure to the sight.
Wow that thing looks HORRIBLE! I can almost deal with it but the hood, how it comes to a point in the back, almost like a 1950’s Cadillac fender tails is a complete turn off.
Two of the worst components of Block II had a baby.
“I’m Batman” First thing I thought when I saw this thing.
So many assumptions based on zero handling of the sight, or knowledge of it’s development, or the path forward.
Doesn’t change the fact that is looks like the Bat Mobile!
The units at shot are prototypes. I was in my meeting with elite defense and made that point was made very clear. the launch models will be slightly different and new buttons will be in the production units. They just wanted something in place to have samples ready for shot.
Its a pretty slick piece of kit and excited to get my hands on one and give it a shot.
At least, they didn’t came out with an external sighting mount.
I know everyone is saying it, but dear God that is one ugly optic, lol
First thought: If Batman had a holo-sight
Second: That is a lot of sharp pointy snaggy edges on there.
Based on their other products I’m interested on what their take on this platform and what ways they address the various strengths and weaknesses of other units out there.
Gents, any idea on price?
MSRP $799 as per the Elite Defense rep.
Not a fan of the sharp edges
Yeah, neither am I.
They need to run that design through some serious de-burring, because those edges and points are going to fuck someone up during an IED event, or even tripping and falling over during movement. I can just see those horns stuck into someone’s forehead during a night movement…
Round is good. Edgy is stupid. Edgy like this sight? Seriously stupid.
Something new is comming. Concept is in testing. Holographic sight fans will see the future soon. From one of the best brands…. To be continued…
….still waiting….intriqued….better hurry cannot stay opticless for much longer!
Just sent my xps2-2 in for a refund,and im gonna use the money for an HCO.
Does anyone think the Hartman MH1 is a possible contender to the Specter HCO and as a viable EOTech replacement?
I sadly don’t even know what that is. Gonna duckduckgo now.